Apparatus for compacting refuse



Oct. 1-, 1963 Filed Sept l1 N. A. KENDZIA 2 Sheets-Sheet l :1 fi f T 85as 22 50 5/ I 2/ l4 /0 Z2 2/ 75 INVENTOR :1 2% l4 n/ r g ,eefldz/a.

BY W

ATTORNEY Oct. 1, 1963 N. A. KENDZIA APPARATUS FOR COMPACTING REFUSE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. ll, 1961 LLIF .lll Ill-Illll .!II

INVENTOR BY A]. W

fi ATTORNEY' United States Patent 3,105,435 APPARATUS FOR C(BMPACTHNGREFUSE Norbert A. Kendzia, 14781 Bennett Road, Royalton, Ohio FiledSept. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 137,353 6 Claims. (Cl. 108-4171) This inventionrelates to apparatus for disposing of refuse and more particularly to anapparatus for crushing collapsible articles such as tin cans, bottlesetc. in order that the space they take on a refuse truck and in theplace of disposal of the refuse is reduced to a minimum.

As is well known, the disposal of refuse material such as tin cans,bottles etc. is an extremely expensive procedure. This is brought aboutby the fact that the majority of disposable trash comprises emptybottles, boxes and tin cans.

Heretofore, as a practical matter, the householder merely throws thetrash into a large container and the refuse collector merely empties thecontainer into the truck which carts it away. Since the refuse disposalsite is usually located in one particular place for any municipality, itfrequently happens that most of the trips are several miles,particularly when the disposal place is on one side of town and thecollection is taking place on the other. Therefore, it can be seen ifthe number of trips can be reduced and the collection truck can stay inone place longer before it is emptied, the c llection of the refusetakes place much faster and with a vast savings in money.

The problem of disposing of refuse may be better understood if it isborne in Illll'ld that refuse is the kind of material that utilizes alarge space. This can be better appreciated in considering an ordinary 6oz. beer can. A beer can which measures 2 /2 in diameter by 4%" long,takes up over 23 cubic inches. if that same can is crushed flat, theamount of space it takes up is about ,4 that amount. When it is realizedthat cans placed in a truck .helter skelter, take up even more room,then it can be realized that if the hollow articles can be reduced totheir smallest volume, a truck can conservatively hold more than tentimes the amount that it would by the normal collection process. Thissimply means that if the volume of the refuse can be reduced to for eachten trips to the refuse dump previously taken, the truck will now onlyneed to make one. This results in an enormous saving in manpower, fuelconsumption and normal depreciation of the equipment. Still anotherfactor, that cannot be ignored, is the fact that, at the place ofdisposal, ten times the amount of refuse may be deposited than washeretofore possible.

Briefly, the present invention contemplates a device that may be towedbehind the usual refuse truck. The refuse is dumped into a hopper andthe material is compacted or broken and conveyed up and into the truck.It will thus be seen that the device not only reduces the volume of theload, but it also constitutes a loader which eliminates the need for anexpensive and especially designed truck for handling the refuse. Inaddition it reduces the number of men needed on the truck. All of theseare savings which any community can use to their advantage.

More specifically the device contemplates a pair of power driven crusherrollers or drums into the throat of which the refuse is fed. In itspassage between the drums the bottles, boxes and tin cans are crushed orbroken and compacted. At the exit to the rollers the compacted andbroken refuse is discharged onto a c nveyor by which it is conveyedcontinuously to the truck.

Of particular interest is the fact that the design is ice such thatarticles that cannot be compacted, such as small solid articles, do notjam the compacting rollers since these rollers are arranged to moveapart upon the passage of a non-compactable article. Since very largearticles are not usually placed in the householder collection can butlaid alongside it, these extremely large articles, which are in theminority, are merely thrown into the truck, thus bypassing the crusher.

Another feature of the device is in the arrangement of the power drive,which is such that the driving forces tend to implement the crushingaction.

Still other advantages of the invention, as well as the inventionitself, will become more apparent from the following description of anembodiment thereof which is illustrated by the accompanying drawings andforms a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, on a reduced scale, of the apparatusof my invention and illustrating the manner of its mounting at the rearof an ordinary truck;

FIG. '2 is an enlarged elevational view of the major portion of thecompactor, with certain parts omitted to better disclose the remainingparts;

FIG. 3 is a view taken from the line 33 of FlG. 2; FIG. 4 is a sectiontaken from the line 44 of FIG. 3 and illustrating in dashed lines analternate position taken by certain of the parts;

FIG. 4a is a fragmentary section illustrating a different formation ofdrum surfaces;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the drivemeans; and

FIG. 6 is a section taken from the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, throughout which like parts aredesignated by like reference characters, and particularly to FIGS. 1 to3 inclusive, I provide a chassis which includes an axle 10 upon the endsof which a pair of pneuamtic tired wheels 11 are journalled. Althoughthe main load of the device is unsprung, it will be apparent thatsprings could be used if desired, but are omitted from the drawings inthe interest of clarification of the real invention.

The chassis frame comprises a pair of tubes 14 which converge towardeach other and merge into a single draw bar -15 provided with an eye 16arranged to be secured in a clevis 17 on the back of the truck by a drawpin 18.

The tubes are secured to the axle It by brackets 20 and U-bolts 21. Eachof the brackets has an upstanding plate 22 which supports a rectangularbearing plate 23.

The bearing plates in turn support a generally box-like base frame whichis comprised of rectangular side plates 39 and a forward plate 31 and arear plate 32. The frame is provided with a peripheral flange 33 on itsupper edge. This flange may extend outwardly or inwardly. Both thebottom and the top of the frame are open. At the rear of the frame thereis provided a pair of spaced aligned hinge brackets 34 which extendupwardly and outwardly beyond the top and rear of the frame.

A second movable box frame is hingedly supported above the base frame.It comprises side walls 49, a back wall 41 and a top wall 42. The frontand bottom are open and the three side walls are provided with aperipheral flange 43 at the lower edge. The flanges on the movable frameare arranged to register with and be supported by the flanges on thelower frame. The top frame is likewise provided with hinge brackets 44which extend outward and downward alongside the brackets 34 and a hingepin 45 extends through all four of the brackets and thus the upper frameis hingedly connected to the lower frame. The hinge pin preferably spansthe space between the hinge pin brackets 3 and 44, which brackets arespaced apart on the back side of the frames and fairly close to theirsides. It also extends out-board on the near side, as viewed in FIG. 1,through a chain guard and idler sprocket support 59.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the chain guard and idler sprocketsupport 59 is comprised of a pair of spaced trapezoidal shaped sidewalls 5% connected together by a back wall 5L" The lower end of thechain guard has an idler sprocket 51 rotatably journalled between itssides. The support 53 is secured to the upper frame member 4-6 byadjustment means 52 in such a manner that it is fixed thereto and moveswith it as a unitary element. Thus, although the upper frame and chainguard are adjusted relative to each other once adjusted, if the upperframe moves upward, as shown in the dashed line in FIGS. 4 and 5, thelower end of the support 58 moves the front of the machine.

A pair of crushing drums or rollers are provided, and as can best beseen from FIG. 4, one is carried by the lower frame and the other by theupper frame. They may be identical and are each made of heavy steel inthe form of a hollow cylinder 69 having outwardly extending longitudinalribs 51. The number of ribs may vary, four being shown in the drawings.They should be of such a height that objects fed to the drums will becaught thereby and forced between the drums. On the other hand, theheight should be the minimum possible in order tl at the other materialswill be crushed the maximum amount. By spacing the ribs on one drumbetween those of the other drum, as shown in FIG. 4, the maximum heightof ribs, with the minimum spacing between the drums, may be obtained.

It is contemplated that where the rib 61 on one drum is toward thesurface of the other drum, the surface of that drum opposite the rib onthe other drum could be provided with a longitudinal indentation 63a.This would allow higher ribs to be used and enable the drums to beplaced closer together, thus compacting the material the maximumpossible amount.

The drums are fixed to and supported on axial shafts 62 which arerotatably journalled in the side walls of the frames. On the near side,as shown in the figures, the shafts project outboard and have chainsprockets 63 carried thereby.

At the front of the lower frame member 33 there is provided a forwardlyextending platform 65, which supports an engine 66. On the front Wall 31of the lower frame a pair of brackets 67 support a sheave 63 on acountershaft 69, which is connected to the engine by a belt 7 Means maybe provided for implementing the weight of the upper drum such as anadjustable drum spring 72 which is connected between the lower part ofthe chain guard 59 and a bracket 73 by an eye bolt 74. Thus the pressureof the upper roller or drum toward the lower one may be adjusted.

The countershaft 69 extends outward to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 3and 2, and carries a drive sprocket 76. The spr ckets '76, 63 and 51 areall aligned with each other and an endless drive chain 77 passes aroundthe sprocket 76, under the lower sprocket 63, over the upper sprocket63, around the idler sprocket 51, and back to the drive sprocket 76. Bythis means the two drums are driven in opposite directions, the lowerone clockwise and the upper one counter-clockwise.

The fastening means 52, for the chain guard may comprise a bolt whichextends through apertures in the chain guard and the side 4i) of theframe. The apertures on the side and chain guard are formed by drillingholes in the chain guard and the frame simultaneously. Each pair ofholes is drilled for a separate position of the chain guard relative tothe frame. The chain tightening means may be moved by positioning thebolt in different holes in the frame to change the position of the idlersprocket relative to the chain, and thus to enable tightening of thechain.

in operation, the machine is started by starting the engine and thedrive chain causes the crushing drums to be operated in oppositedirections. The refuse is fed to the hopper, which in turn directs itinto the entrance throat between the drums where the ribs pick it up andforce it between the drums where it is crushed. Should a solid obiect,such as a stone, be encountered, the upper frame pivots about the pivotpin 45 and allows it to rise against the Weight of the upper frame andthe pressure exerted by the spring 72. This action is illustrated by thedashed lines in FIG. 4 and similarly diagrammatically in FIG. 5.

it will be noticed that when the upper sprockets 63 rises, the loweridler sprocket 51 moves forward in an arc. Thus the chain does notloosen or tightenon this movement but retains the same tension. This isbrought about by arranging the distance from the center of the pivotpoint 45 to the pitch line of the upper sprocket 63 opposite to a centerline through the pivot 45 and r the axis of the upper sprocket 63 sothat it is equal to the distance from the center of the pivot 45 to thepitch line of tie sprocket 51, opposite to a line through the axis ofpivot 45 and sprocket 51.

=lt should also be noticed that the drive for the drums is such thatpull on the chain 77 is downward, as indicated bythe arrow 77a, in FIG.5, and that it thus causes a greater downward pressure on the upper drumwhen it meets a resistance from an object to be crushed.

The crushed refuse is discharged from between the drums onto a beltconveyor 8%.

The lower end of the belt conveyor 89 is supported on and driven by adrum 31, which is carried by a shaft 82 journalled in bearings 33,carried by the plates 23. One end of the shaft, on the far side of themachine, extends outboard and has a sprocket 85 which is connected by achain 86 to a drive sprocket 87 on the drive shaft 62 of the lower drum.

The other end of the belt conveyor 30 is carried around a roller 96',carried by a frame 91, the lower ends of which are pivotally connectedat 92 to the shaft $2 on opposite ends of the lower drive chain 81. Theposition of the upper end of the conveyor is determined by a jack orjacks 93 connected between the frame members 14 and the frame 91. Theupper rim of the conveyor is provided with suitable guard boards @5 toprevent the compact refuse from falling off the conveyor.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a means, which because it canbe manufactured as an auxiliary device, may be used with conventionalequipment and thus result in a considerable savings. Although it hasbeen described as being an auxiliary device, it is apparent that itcould be incorporated as a unitary part of a refuse collection truck, ifit should be desired.

Refuse fed into the hopper is compacted to a fraction of its normalsize. Tin cans are flattened out; bottles are pulverized and sticks,boxes and other frangible material are reduced to their smallestdimensions. Bricks and stones which do not break readily and othernonbreakable material pass through the machine readily due to theability of the rollers to separate. The longitudinal ribs not only pullthe material through the drums but also cause it to be broken, when itcan be broken. Due to its nature it does not have to be rotated at anextremely high rate and therefore it is materially less dangerous andconsiderably less noisy.

The manner of connecting the drive chain between the rollers is suchthat the materials that are harder to break are subjected to greaterpressure due .to the direction of pull of the chain. 'It should be notedthat the auxiliary tension spring 72, in many instances, could beomitted but has the advantage when used that the pressure upon therollers may be implemented. Further pressure could also be obtained bysecuring weights to the top wall 42 of the upper frame at As the chainwears, the fastening means 52 may be moved to difierent holes to retainthe desired tension. Although only three positions are shown, it isapparent that a Wider range of adjustment could be attained by providingmore holes. This particular structure has an advantage in that it issimple, has no wearing parts and when the chain is to be replaced, maybe removed to allow the chain guard to swing freely.

It is also apparent that a duplicate set of sprockets and chain couldalso be provided on the opposite side of the frame and the counter-shaft69 extended to provide drives to each side.

Having thus described the invention, in an embodiment thereof, I amaware that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefromwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a frame, a roller mountedon a fixed axis on said frame, a second frame pivotally connected to thefirst frame and a second roller rotatably mounted on the second frameabove the first frame and being urged by gravity toward the fixedroller, an idler sprocket depending from said second frame in fixedrelation thereto and movable therewith, a drive sprocket on the firstframe and driven sprockets on the first and second rollers, chain drivemeans trained around the drive sprocket and around the sprocket for thefixed roller in one direction and around the sprocket for the movableroller in the other direction and around the idler sprocket and motormeans connected to the chain in driving relation thereto.

2. A device as described in claim 1, wherein the means provided forcausing rotation of the rollers rotates the rollers in such a directionthat upon meeting an obstruction, at the entrance to the rollers, thedriving pressure forces the movable roller toward the fixed roller.

3. A device as described in claim 2, wherein the point where the movableframe is pivotally connected to the first frame and the axis of saididler sprocket are such that when an object forces said rollers apartthe movable roller sprocket and the idler sprocket rotate about thepivot of the second frame in such amounts as to maintain constanttension on the chain.

'4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a a drive sprocket,endless drive means connected around the last mentioned drive sprocket,under the sprocket for the first drum, over the sprocket for the seconddrum and around said idler sprocket.

5. A device as described in claim 4, wherein the distance from the pivotfor the second frame along a line from said pivot and through the axisof said sprocket for the second frame and to the pitch L ne of saidsprocket is equal to the distance from said pivot point along a linethrough the axis of said idler sprocket to the pitch line of said idlersprocket.

6. A device as described in claim 5, wherein supplementary tension meansis connected to the scond frame to increase the pressure of the seconddrum toward the first drum.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS506,362 Dowling Oct. 10, 1893 733,454 Bloom July 14, 1903 752,755 BrownFeb. 23, 1904 1,159,935 Hance Nov. 9, 1915 1,673,559 Hanak June 12, 19282,244,209 Moss June 3, 1941 2,414,855 Cornell Jan. 28, 1947 2,540,021Wright Jan. 30, 1951 2,578,540 Gundiach Dec. 11, 1951 2,621,778 HeinjeDec. 16, 1952 2,766,795 Y-oerger Oct. 16, 1956 2,812,798 Antwerpen et alNov. 12, 1957 2,826,300 Ross Mar. 11, 1958 2,829,587 Russell Apr. 8,1958 2,844,184 Vollmer July 22, 1958

1. A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING A FRAME, A ROLLER MOUNTEDON A FIXED AXIS ON SAID FRAME, A SECOND FRAME PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THEFIRST FRAME AND A SECOND ROLLER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE SECOND FRAMEABOVE THE FIRST FRAME AND BEING URGED BY GRAVITY TOWARD THE FIXEDROLLER, AN IDLER SPROCKET DEPENDING FROM SAID SECOND FRAME IN FIXEDRELATION THERETO AND MOVABLE THEREWITH, A DRIVE SPROCKET ON THE FIRSTFRAME AND DRIVEN SPROCKETS ON THE FIRST AND SECOND ROLLERS, CHAIN DRIVEMEANS TRAINED AROUND THE DRIVE SPROCKET AND AROUND THE SPROCKET FOR THEFIXED ROLLER IN ONE DIRECTION AND AROUND THE SPROCKET FOR THE MOVABLEROLLER IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND AROUND THE IDLER SPROCKET AND MOTORMEANS CONNECTED TO THE CHAIN DRIVING RELATION THERETO.